South Carolina entered Saturday’s Palmetto Bowl knowing its postseason hopes were already gone after recording its seventh loss. Clemson, meanwhile, had already secured bowl eligibility with six wins. That meant the 122nd meeting between the in-state rivals was fueled entirely by pride — and the chance to end the season on a high note.
For the fourth consecutive matchup, South Carolina found itself with a realistic shot to steal the game in the final quarter. And for the second straight time at Williams-Brice Stadium, the Gamecocks let it slip away. With Clemson’s 28-14 victory, the visiting team extended its streak to five straight wins in the rivalry.
Despite trailing from start to finish, South Carolina repeatedly had opportunities to turn the game around. Over the final 30 minutes, the Gamecocks had five separate drives that could have ended with a go-ahead touchdown — but came up short on each one. The result was their sixth straight home loss to Clemson and another chapter in a season defined by missed chances in tight games. Six of South Carolina’s losses this year came with the Gamecocks within one score entering the fourth quarter.
The game began with early defensive stands. Clemson punted on its first drive, energizing the sold-out crowd in Columbia. But the momentum quickly faded when South Carolina responded with a three-and-out.
Their next possession showed more promise. LaNorris Sellers hit Jared Brown for a 32-yard strike after escaping the shadow of his own goal line. But the positive play turned sour when Brown fumbled the ball, setting Clemson up in favorable field position — a moment that felt symbolic of the Gamecocks’ season-long struggles.
Fortunately for USC, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik misfired in the red zone and found Jalon Kilgore instead of Adam Randall, halting the Tigers’ momentum.
Once the offenses settled in, the matchup lit up. Clemson opened the scoring, and the Gamecocks responded instantly. Sellers launched a perfect deep ball to Nyck Harbor for a 53-yard touchdown, tying the game in just three plays.
But Clemson again fired back, using chunk plays and a facemask penalty to reach the red zone. In a bizarre sequence, Klubnik fumbled at the 3-yard line, recovered the ball, and ran untouched into the end zone.
South Carolina answered immediately. On the very next snap, Sellers connected with Vandrevius Jacobs, who split double coverage and sprinted 74 yards to tie the game again.
By halftime, both teams were torching the opposing secondary. Five total players were averaging at least 10 yards per catch — with Harbor, Jacobs, and Brown each exceeding 20.
Clemson took a narrow 17-14 lead into the break.
Coming out of halftime, South Carolina had a prime opportunity to seize momentum but went three-and-out. Fortunately for the Gamecocks, the defense held Clemson to a field goal to keep it a one-possession game.
Late in the third quarter, USC pieced together its longest drive of the night, pushing into the Clemson 23. But just as the Gamecocks approached scoring range, Sellers threw a costly interception, deflating Williams-Brice Stadium.
The Gamecocks continued fighting. Sellers broke loose on a read option, sprinting toward a seemingly inevitable touchdown — until Clemson’s Wade Woodaz made a critical, touchdown-saving tackle after just 13 yards.
South Carolina later turned it over on downs, and Clemson threatened to close it out. The Gamecock defense held again, forcing a punt and giving the offense one last chance.
But on the first play of the drive, Sellers threw a pick-six. Moments later, Harbor lost a fumble, sealing the loss. The Clemson sideline exploded as the Tigers completed another rivalry win.
South Carolina ended the season at 4-8, closing a year marked by heartbreak, near misses, and one final rivalry defeat that echoed the frustrations of 2025.
